As a part of a move to integrate the corporation's beauty care products business, Kao Corporation has named John Nosek president of Kao USA Inc., the newly restructured beauty care company that merges Kao's prestige, mass and salon businesses in the U.S. Beginning this month, Kao Corporation's beauty care subsidiaries in North America and Europe will run as unified organizations in the major countries in which they operate. In his capacity as president of Kao USA, Nosek will oversee the consumer products business, professional salon business, and Molton Brown USA Inc. The Kao USA Inc. brand portfolio includes Ban antiperspirants; Jergens and Curel hand and body lotions; Biore facial care;and John Frieda hair care, as well as Goldwell and KMS California professional hair care and Molton Brown products for body and home.

Previously, Kao's key beauty care subsidiaries all operated as independent businesses in the North American and European markets. Under the direction of Nosek in the U.S., these subsidiaries will be unified with an emphasis on standardization of work practices and integration of information technology systems. The global management approach will give Kao increased leverage in target markets, and enable Kao to better utilize its combined experience and resources to accelerate the growth of the Kao group in the U.S.

"John has had such a strong track record at Kao Brands, and I'm confident he will continue his significant achievements in his new role," says Bill Gentner, president, Kao Consumer Products, Americas & EMEA. "I can't think of a better leader to guide the process of unifying the Kao USA holdings."

Nosek joined Kao Brands Company in 2006 as vice president of sales and was named general manager for Kao Brands Company U.S. in 2008. Prior to his first role at Kao Brands, Nosek held a variety of executive positions in the consumer products arena with other industry giants such as L'Oreal USA and Bristol-Myers Squibb.